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Vanderbilt coach plans low-key approach for debut

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derek Mason knows exactly where he will be when it’s time for his Vanderbilt Commodores to run onto the field Thursday night.

Bringing up the rear, letting his captains lead their teammates through the tunnel.

“That’s their football team,” Mason said Tuesday. “We are Vanderbilt. Our captains will come out, they’ll lead that team out the tunnel. I’ll be in the backdrop. Let’s go play football.”

Mason will be making his head coaching debut when Vanderbilt hosts Temple after being hired in January to take over a program that has finished in the Top 25 each of the previous two seasons with consecutive 9-4 records. The former Stanford defensive coordinator said Tuesday he plans a quick glance around the stadium once inside before turning his attention to work.

“I’ll soak it in,” Mason said of the atmosphere for his debut. “I don’t think I’ll be like (LSU coach) Les Miles and pick up a blade of grass and start chewing it. I think I’ll take a moment just to gaze around and see where I’m at, then the focus comes right back.”

Mason said he has been going to bed nightly reviewing scenarios like clock management and has looked closely at his 2-point chart. He says there’s no scenario he hasn’t covered, drawing on his background as a former assistant coach. Mason has coached in the NFL with Minnesota with stints in the league’s minority coaching fellowship program with the Rams, Giants and Raiders.

He worked his way up from coaching wide receivers at Mesa Community College in California in 1994 in a career that has included stops at Weber State, Idaho State, Bucknell, Utah, Saint Mary’s, New Mexico State and Ohio University. He worked his way from coaching defensive backs at Stanford in 2010 to defensive coordinator and associate head coach.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a while,” Mason said.

Mason has a mix of experience and youth in this team. The depth chart released Tuesday features 13 starters that are redshirt sophomores or younger, including three of the four new starters in the secondary. Redshirt freshman Ralph Webb is listed as the starter at running back with sophomore Patton Robinette at quarterback.

“The best players need to play, so arguably you can always look at experience,” Mason said. “But when you have talented guys who compete day in and day out and they show to be better in situations, that’s what you go with. I promised these guys when we put this team together we’d put the best players on the field.”

His Commodores already have an expectation of what they will see from Mason during the season opener. Guard Spencer Pulley said Mason is solid and intense, making it clear that winning games is up to the players with coaches supporting them from the sideline.

Senior linebacker Kyle Woestmann says he’s a big fan of Mason’s quiet intensity.

“And during the game, he doesn’t seem to be the type of guy that loses his cool or is too out of control on the sideline,” Woestmann said. “So I’m really excited to see him in his first game. He provides a quiet intensity and confidence that kind of seeps out to the rest of the team, and I think that’s a good thing to have on the sideline.”

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Online:

AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org/

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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